Overtime
Also known as: العمل الإضافي · overtime pay · OT
Overtime is work beyond normal working hours. Under Article 107 of the Saudi Labour Law it is paid at the hourly wage plus 50% of the basic hourly wage; all hours worked on Eids and official holidays count as overtime, and the cap is 720 hours a year unless the worker agrees to more.
Example
Actual wage 9,000 SAR, basic 6,000 SAR, eight hours a day. Actual hourly wage = 9,000 ÷ 30 ÷ 8 = 37.50 SAR; premium = 50% × (6,000 ÷ 30 ÷ 8) = 12.50 SAR. Each overtime hour pays 50 SAR.
Time off instead
Since the 2025 amendments, with the worker’s consent, the employer may give paid leave instead of pay: at least one and a half hours per overtime hour, taken within 60 days unless agreed otherwise, capped at 30 days a year, with any unused time paid in cash when employment ends.
Use the Saudi overtime calculator, and the Ramadan overtime calculator during Ramadan.
Official sources
This is general information to help you understand the topic. It is not legal advice. Rules and rates change: always check the official text on the relevant authority’s platform and consult a qualified adviser before acting.
